Kerala: Environment fire on Private medical colleges violating norms

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Private Medical Colleges seems to have been blatantly violating environment clearance and going ahead with construction of college buildings and affiliated hospitals, despite EC having been rejected by authorities.

Coming down heavily on such private medical institutions that have violated environmental laws in the construction of college and hospital buildings, the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), has issued stop memos to two hospitals.

The Authority has also sought an action taken report on recommended proceedings against three others from the District collector.

Some of the prominent players are:

• Mount Zion Medical College, Ezhankulam, Pathanamthitta,


• Genesis Institute of Medical Sciences, Kannur


• Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur


• K. Das Institute of Medical Sciences, Palakkad


• VPS Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre, Ernakulam,


• Mount Sinai Medical College, Adoor


• Gregorios Medical Mission Hospital


• International Cancer Centre

The 23^rd December meeting of the authority decided to put an end to construction activities at Mount Zion Medical College, Ezhankulam, Pathanamthitta, and the Genesis Institute of Medical Sciences, Kannur, and carry out legal proceedings against the institutions.

The SEIAA observed that Mount Zion Medical College had gone ahead with the construction, despite its application for Environmental Clearance (EC) by SEIAA in June 2015, was rejected

The Genesis Institute hospital’s , vertical expansion of was found to violate the provisions of the EIA notification-2006 that mandate prior EC for construction of ‘Red category’ hospital buildings with a plinth area of 20,000 sq m and above.

The environment clearance issue taken up by the SEIAA was based on a complaint filed by an NGO seeking legal action against five hospitals that have violated the provision of prior EC from SEIAA before undertaking construction.

The meeting also decided to seek a report from the district Collectors on the recommended action against Jubilee Mission Medical College, Thrissur; VPS Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre, Ernakulam, and P.K. Das Institute of Medical Sciences, Palakkad for not having procures environmental clearance before undertaking construction.

A show cause notice is also to be issued to the Mount Sinai Medical College, Adoor, and St. Gregorios Medical Mission Hospital and International Cancer Centre for similar reasons reports the Hindu.

On the basis of an office memorandum issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the authority observed that EIA notification-2006 was being violated callously. The meeting decided to generate awareness about the issue of environmental among government and local bodies, as well as the public at large